The secret is out on Tasmania — this small, remote island-state of Australia just earned the #4 spot on Lonely Planet’s list of Best Places in the World to Visit.
It’s no wonder why — check out this quick iPhone photo I took en route to one of the wilderness national parks that make up one third of Tasmania’s landscape. Where else in the world could you surf, sail, hike, climb, dive, golf, and fly-fish, all in the same day? And do all this without seeing another person!
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival was everything we’d hoped for, and much more. With over 500 boats on display, and more than200,000 visitors, it ranks as the second largest wooden boat festival in the world next to the Festival of the Sea in Brest, France. But unlike Brest, visitors can get right next to the docked boats, and even get aboard some of them and talk with their owners. With good music and a wide variety of exceptional food, it has much of the spirit that we always find at Port Townsend’s wooden boat festival.
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Doug Bell says:
Just fantastic. Thank you! Can’t wait for the videos and other stories. My wife is ready to go down there tomorrow. I’m a lucky guy!
James aka Steve Stephens says:
Boy!. Am I the unlucky one having spent 6/8 months each summer for the past 15 years in Strahan Tasmania (Macquarie Harbour).
Watching each day boats taking tourists to Sarah Island then on up the Gordon River to Warners Landing where Houn Pine is still growing, and protected.
Still some one has to do it.
Kaci Cronkhite says:
If folks are seriously interested in an OCH flight/tour option I’ll dig back through my emails for sources. There are some cool wooden boat things happening in Sydney that could be part of the before and after, too. Fun idea, Larry!
Doug Bell says:
Mary and I are ready to plunk down a deposit for a OCH group tour of Tasmania and environs. Sign us up!
Joy Phillips says:
Hi Steve
Can’t wait to see all the videos you made down under. We sailed Holger Danske in the Kettering to Cygnet regatta (20nm and 100 yachts) last weekend, we came 1st over the line in our division and 2nd on handicap- Mr Nielsen and Mr Walsted would be proud of their wonderful wooden boat.
best regards Philip and Joy
Mark Patton says:
Steve, It was a little late last night and I forgot to say I loved the story and pics. Glad we can live vicariously on your/our dimes.
Steve Stone says:
Thanks Mark. I remember on my shoot out aboard GYPSY, after a couple beers, somebody leaned over and said: “Mate, is this your WORK?
Mark Patton says:
You know you can’t build wood boats w/o wood and anyone who follows Aussie, or Tassie woodies has heard of the Mighty,Marvelous, Majestic, Magical, Mystical Huon Pine(actually not a pine at all) (Lagarostrobos franklinii)
Did you see one? Is there any oldgrowth left? I’d love to see one before it became a friggin boat. Or worse a toilet seat!
Maybe Ned Trewartha could lead you to one.
p.s.More than anyone else on the planet WE have a need for oldgrowth. Let’s save some!
Mark Patton, The Old Growth Logging Co.
John Fergus says:
Mark,
The following quote “Australian Woodwork” should answer some parts of your question.
“Who Controls The Stocks?
85% of remaining Huon Pine forests are conserved in National Parks while 15% is managed by Forestry Tasmania for salvage. Forestry Tasmania controls and surveys ALL salvage/harvest sites and only 3 sawmills are licensed to process logs.”
https://www.australianwoodwork.com.au/blogs/news/what-is-so-special-about-huon-pine
Rob Roy says:
Hey Steve, thanks for the great article.
I was at the festival as well with my dad, and we both loved the Driftboat. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch up with you or see your presentation, although I would have loved to. We met at Port Townsend in 2013 (I was the Aussie guy you filmed with the “Off Center Harbor is my ‘Happy Place'” comment).
It was my first time in Hobart and “Tassie” as well, and it’s now at the top of my list of places to retire. I’d move there now if they had any jobs!
Can’t wait to watch the videos.
Thomas Buzzi says:
Those reverse curved fishing boats are gorgeous! Haven’t had an interest in seeing Australia but after this, Tasmania has appeal. Looking for your videos soon.
Thanks for the share.
Tom Buzzi
Marc Ranger says:
Wonderful stuff, we have suffered through a rather harsh winter here in eastern Canada with many severe cold days but lately the temperature has moderated somewhat and hints of spring are in the air. These photos are very soothing to us northerners and I am eagerly looking forward to the videos,
Thanks OFC
Marc
Michael Bigos says:
Thanks, Steve. Great Och content like this and skiing with my family is getting me through this harsh winter! I’ll share this with friends who will get as hooked on OCH as I am.
Tony Torpy says:
As an Aussie and a huge fan of your site, I am delighted to see your interest in the Tassie Festival. I have been to three of them now with the second festival providing the inspiration for the purchase of my current boat. You might want to consider a visit to the Tasmanian Wooden Boat School on the Huon River at Franklin (about an hour or so from Hobart) in 2017.
Look forward to the vids. Keep up the great work.
Peter Higgs says:
Many thanks Steve for your kind words and great shots of AWBF 15 we look forward to seeing you and many Off Centre Harbour crew and subscribers at the AWBF 17, 10th – 13th of February.
Ralph Eade says:
Hi Steve caught your presentation on making videos that don’t suck then joined you when you made one at the festival it was really helpful. Been coming to Australia best kept secret Festival since 2005 and have now have put Seattle and Brest back in the bucket list. Thanks and look forward to the videos.
Chris Powell says:
Great stuff Steve-you may not know but Wayne built a Couda boat for Harry (Harrison Garvin) she is called Lucy and still sails in The Bay-Looking forward to your vids-Cheers
Steve Stone says:
Hah! Forgot about that but now I rembember how much Wayne loved that design. Please tell Harry hello for me.
Paul Larkin says:
Can’t wait to see the vid’s and thanks for the history lesson. So you didn’t see any Tasmanian Devils?
Steve Stone says:
Wallabes, paddymelons, lots of birds. No Tasmanian devils.
David Jeffery says:
Panting for the videos. So 200,000 people and 500 boats came to the festival–in Tasmania. Whew! The drift boat for fly fishing was intriguing, with the raised sheer amidships for the rowlocks. And…wait for it…those boats were imported from… Montana!
Josh Ormsby says:
Did you get to see any of the Norwalk Island Sharpies? I think a few of them were heading to Hobart.
Designed by Bruce Kirby (of the Laser) they have become popular ‘down under’. Generally they are home-built and I think the most popular sizes are the 18′ to 26′ models.
-Josh
Steve Stone says:
Missed those Josh, but next time. It was a head-spinner this time.
Larry Cheek says:
Delectable stills and narrative, Steve. Crank those videos! And then start working on an OCH members’ charter flight to the next Australian WBF.
Maggie Hunt says:
What Larry says!
Steve Stone says:
Thanks Larry. Hmmm. Off Center charter flight. Interesting idea.
Evan Evans says:
Looks like a wonderful place to visit. I’d love to do it on a Sydney to Hobart boat!
Wil Hewett says:
Wonderful! Eager to see the videos.